2020 　2019 　2018 　
December 14, 2019
Tea ceremony at the residence of the Comte of CHANDON-MOËT and exhibition of Takatori-yaki ceramics

The Association organized the tea ceremony at the Castle of Ferrand in Saint-Emilion in cooperation with the Comte of CHANDON-MOËT and the Baron of BICH. We also exhibited pieces of Takatori-yaki ceramics (see ******) created by the atelier of Mr. Miraku KAMEI. The Japanese are very familiar with the Champagne from Möet & Chandon as well as the Bic pen who are co-owners of the Catle.。

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December 9, 2019
The 5th conference at the University of Grenoble-Alpes in Grenoble
Theme: What is the tea ceremony and Takatori-yaki ceramic

The conference given once a year by the Association at this university has become an annual event. Each year, the cooperation between artists from various traditional arts is appreciated. This year, we suffered severely the disruption of transport, consequence of the big national strike and so took a lot of delays, which forced us to postpone the start of the conference from 6 PM to 7 PM! Despite this, more than 130 students attended, some of whom could not find seats in the room. We were delighted to have found the same faces in the audience who had been diligent for three consecutive years. When we entered into the room, the students were already there and we had to prepare the tea utensils in face of them. It was an unexpected opportunity for them to watch the backstage.

The first day, we told about the history of the tea ceremony and did a demonstration with the Yôkan cake (sweet and gelled red bean paste) provided by the Toraya pastry shop in Paris. On the second day, ceramist Mr. Hisaaki KAMEI presented the history of Takatori-yaki ceramics and his works. This ceramic has been produced for 400 years in the Fukuoka region of southern Japan. It is one of the seven great ceramics loved by Mr. Enshu KOBORI, one of the legendary tea masters.

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October 5, 2020
Tea ceremony open to the public in Cameroon

The Japanese Embassy organized the cultural event at the Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaoudé, the theme of which was tea and Takatori-yaki ceramics. This is the second year in a row that tea ceremony has been presented in Cameroon. Over 150 Cameroonians from across the country, as well as journalists and local media gathered there.

Started by the speech of Mr. OSAWA, Ambassador of Japan, the presentation of tea and of Takatori-yaki ceramics were made by Mr. Soyu MORI, tea master and Mr. KAMEI, ceramic artist respectively. Then the tea ceremony was demonstrated in face of the audience. Finally we watched together the film dealing with the thought nourished through the tea ceremony, entitled "every day is a good day" (Hibi kore kojitsu).

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October 3, 2019
Tea ceremony inviting Japanese nationals in Cameroon

We organized the tea ceremony in Cameroon last year, it was the first attempt to organize it in sub-Saharan Africa.

Following the address by Mr. MIZUMOTO, counselor of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Mori explained the history of tea and the making of Macha (ground green tea) and Mr. KAMEI, the history of Takatori-yaki ceramics and the baking method.

We were delighted to find the same children among the participants who remembered our last year’s event. They expressed the joy of touching their own national culture despite the distance from their homeland.

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September 27, 2019
Tea ceremony at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the OECD with the presence of HRH. Jean d'Orleans, Count of Paris et Duke of France

The ceremony was organized by the Japanese Friendship Association of the Pompidou Center at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the OECD in Paris. We participated it as collaborators.

Our association invited His Royal Highness. Jean Carl Pierre Marie d'Orléans "Jean IV", count of Paris and head of the royal house of France. He tasted tea at the ceremony with his wife. He was welcomed by Mr. OHE, Ambassador of Japan to the OECD and Mr. Takéo OBAYASHI, President of the Japanese Friendship Association of the Pompidou Center.
The latter is also a chairman of the board of directors of Obayashi, one of the Japanese biggest construction companies and an executive at the Urasenké tea school.

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September 26, 2019
Inauguration of the tea gallery at the observatory at the Tokyo Tower with the presence of Dr. HOUNSAI Sen Genshitsu, 15th Urasenke Grand Master.

The Tower launched the permanent gallery named “無 遮 居” (Mushakyo, which means: the space without obstacle to block the view) adapted to the tea ceremony and carried out the first ceremony at which the artists of the Association participated. The two host was Mr.Shin MAEDA the CEO of the Tokyo Tower and Counseller of the Association, Mr. MORI, president of the Association, prepared tea for the guests. The flowers decorated for the gallery were made by Mrs. Hiroko TAKEDA from the ancient Imperial family of Prince TAKEDA-no-MIYA.

Invited were Mr. HOUNSAI, Grand Chief and Mr. Soyu OTANI respectively of the Urasenké Tea School as well as Mr. Yuji KURODA, head of the Viscount Kuroda family of the ancient daimyos of the Kururi domain (in Chiba prefecture in central Japan). Dr. HOUNSAI donated his written calligraphy “無 無尽蔵” (which means: nothingness and infinity).

Participants from the Association: Mr. SEI (consultant and tea master), Mr. KIMURA (vice-president and ceramist of Bizen-yaki), Mr. TAHARA (vice-president and ceramist of Hagi-yaki), Mr. MATSUBAYASHI (director and ceramist of Asahi-yaki) and M. KAMEI (director and ceramist of Takatori-yaki).

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August 25, 2019
Presentation of the activities of the Association at the Japanese Association of the UN

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Our association presented its activities at the annual meeting of the Japanese Association of the UN (JA-UN) in Tokyo.

JA-UN is a NPO which supports the human and cultural activities of the UN, whose president is Mr. HOUNSAI, grand chief of the Urasenké tea school. At the start of the meeting, this 97-year-old man gave a 40-minute speech without any break for drinking.

Our association has chosen Takatori-yaki ceramics as the annual theme this year. So then Mr. Hisaaki KAMEI, director of the Association, and his father, Mr. Miraku KAMEI XV who ran the family atelier, came to the meeting. And other three persons from the Association also participated: Mr. SEI (consultant and tea master), Mr. MORI (president and tea master) and Mr. OKAMOTO in the interim of Mr. KIMURA (vice-president and ceramist Bizen-yaki).